Mccoy m. gibson jr. c. marshall dann

ABSTRACT

A STRETCHER HAVING AN ENDLESS BELT OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL GUIDED BY TWO SPACED-APART PARALLEL GUIDES ON A FRAME, A SUPPORTING PLATE IS AFFIXED TO THE FRAME UNDER THE FLEXIBLE BELT. MOUNTED ON THE FRAME IS A PROPULSION MECHANISM COUPLED TO A DRIVING MECHANISM FOR DRIVING THE BELT IN A CIRCUMFERENTIAL DIRECTION IN SUCH A WAY THAT, ON MOVING THE FRAME IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF THE BELT WITH   RESPECT TO THE GROUND, A CORRESPONDING DISPLACEMENT OF THE BELT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IS EFFECTED.

June 25, 1974 5, STEVENS Re. 28,056

- STRETCH Original Filed Oct. 27, 1969 3 Shoots-Shoot 1 INVENTOR S IM NSTEVENS ZJVM A ORNEY 5. STEVENS June 25, I974 STRETCHBR 3 Shoots-Shoot 3m N 20 f mm. m- 3% 3 A" S 8 2 8 @N a a 220 0 o O o o 0J0 o 0 W o o 0 JG0 O 0 0 0J0 c O G m- 9 M 0 Q mm u mm 2 mm lmu l .w @w u )A R 5. STEVENSSTRB'I'CHER June 25, 1974 3 Shouts-Shoot 5 Original Filed Oct. 27. L969United States Patent Oflice Reissued June 25, 1974 Matter enclosed inheavy brackets I 1 appears in the original patent but forms no part ofthis reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates theadditions made by reissue ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stretcher havingan endless belt of flexible material guided by two spaced-apart parallelguides on a frame. A supporting plate is allixed to the frame under theflexible belt. Mounted on the frame is a propulsion mechanism coupled toa driving mechanism for driving the belt in a circumferential directionin such a way that, on moving the frame in the longitudinal direction ofthe belt with respect to the ground, a corresponding displacement of thebelt in the opposite direction is effected.

Problems have always been encountered in attempting to lift injuredpersons from the ground for transport to the hospital. In addition, thetransport itself also presents many problems, which up till now have notbeen satisfactorily resolved.

Physicians agree that an injured person should stay as much as possiblein the condition and position in which he is found until a qualifiedperson attends to the transportation of the injured person. Lifting andchanging the position of an injured person may give rise to seriousadditional injuries (e.g., fractures of the spine, fractures ofthemembers which may become complicated, etc.). To lift an injured personin a proper way, at least three, but preferably four skilled assistantsare required. Even then, it is inevitable that the injured person isplaced on the stretcher in a position different from the one immedhately after the injury or accident, and there is surely a risk that justthe displacement of the injured person and his transportation causeadditional, and often serious injuries.

Some previously known stretchers use a belt of flexible material rolledup with two draw tapes to form a cylinder which can be placed under theinjured person by positioning the roll under the head or the feet andunrolling it underneath the injured person. In this way, presumably noshifting movement between the belt and the injured person is produced,the belt being placed under the injured person without the necessity ofaltering the position of the latter. However, this known device has thedrawback that, owing to the movement of the rather thick roll underneaththe body of the injured person, a certain up and down movement of theinjured person is still produced. Furthermore, the injured person islifted by drawing taut and lifting the supporting belt. inevitably, thesupporting belt sags slightly, which is a considerable drawback. Also,to use the known stretcher the injured person must be accessible on bothsides.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a stretcherincluding a frame and at least two guide members rotatably mounted onthe frame. An endless belt is mounted around and guidedby the guidemembers. There is also provided means for rotating the guide memberswhich impart motion to the endless belt. There is also provided meansfor causing the stretcher to translate relative to the surface uponwhich the stretcher rests.

The present invention also provides a stretcher with which an injuredperson can be lifted in such a way that any change of position of thebody of the injured person will be avoided. This stretcher includes abelt which is itself closed and is guided via at least two parallelguides accommodated in spaced relationship from one another in a frame.A fixed supporting plate is provided between the guides and the frame.The frame is provided with a propulsion mechanism which can be coupledto a driving mechanism for driving the supporting belt in acircumferential direction in such a way that, when the frame is moved inthe longitudinal direction of the supporting belt with respect to theground, a corresponding displacement of the supporting belt in theopposite direction is brought about.

During use, the stretcher is as a whole brought under the body of theinjured person by means of the propulsion mechanism whereby, due to themovement of the supporting belt with respect to the fame, the rigidsupporting plate is brought under the body without any displacement ofthe body with respect to the ground. So, for instance, an alreadycommenced mouth-to-mouth resuscitation need not be interrupted as theinjured person is placed on the stretcher. As a consequence, the body isbrought on the supporting plate in exactly the same position as in whichit was found. Any supporting cushion, garments and the like are also puton the stretcher in exactly the same position. The stretcher canthereafter be brought to the room in which treatment is to take place.By reversing the movement described hereinbefore the injured person canthereupon, if necessary be laid on the examining table still in exactlythe same position as in which he was found. Even utter laymen are ableto lift an injured person by means of a stretcher according to theinvention, and to displace the person without any risk of additionalinjuries, the stretcher being handled by one person. It is obvious thatthis is a very great advantage because after traiiic accidents theinjured persons can be moved in the position in which they lie from adangerous place to a less dangerous location and it is not necessary towall until a qualified person has handled or agreed to thetransportability. Moreover, this movement can be performed by a singleunskilled person.

When a disconnectable coupling is present between the drive of the frameand that of the belt it is possible to remove an injured person from aninaccessible location, e.g., from under a vehicle, by bringing theinjured person on the stretcher by advancing the stretcher, whereafterthe coupling is disconnected and the stretcher retracted.

The propulsion mechanism of the frame preferably includes an endlessbelt provided in the frame under the supporting belt and guided by anumber of parallel supporting rollers which rest on the ground. Due tothis feature a uniform locomotion or translation of the stretcher,especially on rugged ground, is ensured.

At the end of the frame, two parallel driving rollers may be provided,between which both the supporting belt and the driving belt are guided.These rollers are driven in such a way that the respectivecircumferential velocities are substantially equal. A chain wheel may beprovided on each roller axle over which also a driving chain is guidedby a driving gear wheel.

The driving belt may be composed of two narrow juxtaposed belt partswhich are each slung over a separate driving roller and which can bedriven synchronously as well as independently of each other. Due to thisfeature it becomes possible, when the driving mechanism consists of aremote-controlled electric motor system, to move and control thestretcher similar to a tracked vehicle. In

this way, by using a stretcher according to the invention provided withremote control and electrically driven, an injured person can be removedfrom a minefield, especially since the weight of the stretcher isdistributed over a large surface area and the low surface pressure doesnot affect the mine detonators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. la, lb and1c represent diagrammatically the principles of operation of a stretcheraccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 represents diagrammatically an embodiment tested in practice;

FIG. 3 shows to a larger scale another detail of the embodimentaccording to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows to a larger scale another detail of the stretcher accordingto FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the stretcher according to- FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the driving mechanism of the stretcheraccording to FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION TheFIGS. la to show diagrammatically a possible, simple embodiment of theinvention. The idea underlying the invention will be clarified withreference to these figures.

The stretcher according to FIG. 1 consists of a diagrammaticallyrepresented frame 1 and a supporting plate 2 fixedly connectedtherewith. A guide roller 3 for a belt 10 is provided at the front endof the frame 1, and a guide roller 4 for the belt 10 and a travellingroller 5 are provided at the rear end of the frame 1. The travellingroller 5 is driven via the pinion 6 and the crank 7. The frame 1 bearson a surface or ground 8 via the travelling roller 5 and the skate 9 insuch a way that the roller 3 is slightly above the ground 8. The endlessbelt 10 is provided around the guide rollers 3 and 4.

When the travelling roller 5 is driven in the direction of the arrow 11,the roller 4 and consequently the belt 10 will be moved in the directionof the arrow 12. When the rollers 4 and 5 have the same diameter therespective circumferential or linear velocities of the roller 5, theroller 4 and the belt 10 are equal. Upon driving the roller 5, the frame1 moves rightward in the direction of the arrow 13, and the upperportion of belt 10 moves leftwards with respect to the frame in thedirection of the arrow 14 over the supporting plate 2. This means that,when the front roller 3 comes underneath an object 15 to be lifted fromthe ground 8, this object 15 will be transferred to the supporting plate2 without its position with respect to the ground 8 being changed. Noshift of the belt 10 with respect to the underside of the object 15occurs; the belt 10 is so to speak unrolled underneath the object 15.The object 15 is transferred to the supporting plate 2, the belt 10serving as an intermediate layer, in exactly the same position as thatin which the object 15 and portions thereof were with respect to theground 8. This means that when the object 15 is a human. being, he canbe transferred to the stretcher without the position of the body beingchanged.

FIG. 1b shows the situation in which the object 15 is halfway on thesupporting plate 2. FIG. 1c shows the situation in which the object 15is entirely on the supporting plate 2. If now the travelling roller 5 isdisengaged from the driving guide roller 4, the entire stretcher can bedisplaced with respect to the ground 8 without the position of theobject 15 on the supporting plate 2 being changed. Eventually, theentire stretcher may also be lifted and displaced.

In order to lift the object 15 from the supporting plate 2 theaforementioned movements are reversed.

FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically and schematically a cross-section of anembodiment successfully tested in practice. In this embodiment, anendless belt 19 is used for driving or translating the stretcher.

A supporting belt 10 is guided by a front small guide roller 16, a guideroller 17 situated at the rear end of the stretcher, and a drivingroller 18. A traveling belt 19 is guided by a front guide roller 20 anda driving roller 21. Under the supporting belt 10: is a supporting plate22. Gear wheels 23 and 24 are provided on the axles of the rollers 18and 21, respectively. The gear wheels 23 and 24 are driven via a chain25 which is further guided by a tension gear wheel 26 and driven via agear wheel 27 by means of a crank 28.

The rollers 16, 17, 18, 20 and 21 and the gear wheels 26 and 27 are heldin a suitable frame (not shown in this figure) which likewise carriesthe supporting plate 22. The frame further supports a number ofhorizontal supporting rollers 29 by which the entire unit bears on theground.

With reference to FIG. 5, a frame includes two longitudinal girders 30and 31 in which the supporting rollers 29 are supported. Theselongitudinal girders 30 and 31 are provided between two otherlongitudinal girders 32 and 33, respectively, which at their front endcarry the guide roller 16. This guide roller 16 is in fact a combinationof a number of short individually supported rollers in order to ensurethe necessary rigidity.

The longitudinal girders 32 and 33- each carry a fastening plate 34 (seeFIG. 6) in which the rollers 18 and 21 are supported. These plates 34carry furthermore a frame 35 in which the driving gear wheel 27 and thecrank 28 are supported. The roller 17 is secured to two sliding pieces36 and 37 by means of which the supporting belt 10: can be tensioned.

The device operates as follows (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4).

Upon turning the crank 28 in the direction of the arrow 38, the chain 25moves in the direction of the arrow 39, the roller 18 moves in thedirection of the arrow 40, and the roller 21 moves in the direction ofarrow 41. The lower portion of belt 19 moves in the direction of thearrow 42, and the upper portion of belt 19 moves in the direction of thearrow 43. The lower portion of the belt 10: moves in the direction ofthe arrow 44, and the upper portion of the belt 10: moves in thedirection of the arrow 45. It appears that the same movements arebrought about as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a to lc. That is, theentire stretcher moves rightward and, since the diameter of the rollers18 and 21 is equal and of the gear wheels 23 and 24 is equal, the upperportion belt 10; moves leftward with an equal speed with respect to theframe. Therefore, this effect need not further be described.

The FIGS. 3 and 4 show in an enlarged scale the situa tion at the reardrive end and at the front end, respectively, of the stretcher. Itappears from these figures how the belts 10 and 19 are provided aboutthe guide rollers.

It should be noted that the stretcher may be provided with a liftablewheel system so that a displacement is possible without the travelingbelt 19 being in contact with the ground. The stretcher can further beprovided with a suitable safeguard structure in order to lift andtransport, for example, patients contaminated by radioactivity.

I claim:

1. A stretcher, comprising, in combination:

a frame;

at least two guide members rotatably mounted on said frame;

an endless supporting belt mounted around and guided by said guidemembers as a support for an object to be transported by said stretcher;

means for rotating said guide members which impart motion to saidendless belt;

a supporting pate rigidly afiixed to said frame between said guidemembers;

said supporting plate being disposed below said endless belt and beingslightly upwardly inclined toward the rear end of said frame;

means for causing said stretcher to translate relative to the surfaceupon which said stretcher rests;

said means for causing said stretcher to translate com prises at leastone travelling roller disposed at the rear end of said frame;

means for rotating said travelling roller;

at least one skate disposed at the front end of said frame, both saidtravelling roller and said skate being in contact with said surface uponwhich said stretcher rests;

said guide members comprise at least two guide rollers disposed inspaced relationship from one another upon said frame;

said guide rollers include one guide roller having a diameter smallerthan the other guide rollers;

said guide roller having said smaller diameter being disposed at thefront end of said frame; said endless supporting belt being mountedaround and guided 2 by said guide rollers;

said means for rotating said guide rollers comprises at least onedriving pinion adapted to engage said travelling roller;

a means for rotating said pinion;

said travelling roller being adapted to engage and disengage at leastone of said guide rollers;

a rotary motion of said guide rollers being etfected through mutualcontact of said guide roller and said pinion with said travellingroller;

said rotary motion of said guide rollers causing said endless supportingbelt to translate relative to said frame in the direction of rotation ofsaid guide rollers;

and said means for rotating said travelling roller comprises saiddriving pinion in engagement with said travelling roller, a rotarymotion of said travelling roller being effected through said engagementwith said pinion, said rotary motion of said travelling roller causingsaid stretcher to translate relative to the surface upon which saidtravelling roller rests.

2. A stretcher comprising, in combination:

a frame;

at least two guide members rotatably mounted on said frame;

an endless supporting belt mounted around and guided by said guidemembers as a support for an object to be transported by said stretcher;

means for rotating said guide members which impart motion to saidendless belt;

a supporting plate rigidly affixed to said frame between said guidemembers;

said supporting plate being disposed below said endless belt and beingslightly upwardly inclined toward the rear end of said frame;

means for causing said stretcher to translate relative to the surfaceupon which said stretcher rests;

said guide members comprise at least three guide rollers 6 said firstguide roller having said smaller diameter being disposed at the frontend of said frame;

a second said guide roller being disposed at the rear end of said frame;

a third said guide roller being disposed between said first and secondguide rollers and being slidably mounted on said frame to act as atensioning device for said endless supporting belt;

said means for rotating said guide members has at least one gear wheelprovided on said second guide roller; is driving chain is in contactwith said gear wheel; said chain is guided by a tension gear wheel; saidchain is driven by a crank whereby a movement of said crank causes saidchain to translate, which translation of said chain in contact with saidgear wheel causes said third guide roller to rotate about its axis, thuscausing said endless supporting belt to translate relative to said framein the direction of rotation of said third guide roller;

said means for causing said stretcher to translate has a plurality ofsupporting rollers;

an endless travelling belt is mounted around and guided by saidsupporting rollers;

a gear wheel is provided on at least one of said supporting rollers; and

said chain is in contact with both said gear wheels so as to cause saidsupporting rollers to rotate in the opposite direction of rotation ofsaid third guide roller whereby, a movement of said crank causes saidchain to translate which translation of said chain in contact with saidsupporting rollers causes said supporting rollers, and said stretcher totranslate relative to the surface on which it rests.

3. A stretcher characterized in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said endless supporting belt is spaced apart from said endlesstravelling belt; and

said endless supporting belt can be driven either synchronously orindependently of said endless travelling belt.

4. A stretcher characterized in accordance with claim 2, wherein therespective circumferential velocities of said guide roller and saidsupport roller provided with said 45 gear wheels are substantiallyequal.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,918,681 12/1959 Davis 5-81 3,418,670 12/1968Morgan 5-81 3,493,979 2/1970 K011 et al. 5-81 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,903,0528/1970 Netherlands 5-81 1,102,119 2/1968 Great Britain 5-81 0 CASMIR A.NUNBERG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION June 25, 1974Patent No. RIB-28056 Dated InvenzorCs) Simon Emmen Stevens rror appearsin the above-identified patent It is certified that e reby corrected asshown below:

and that said Letters Patent are he On the title page, Column 1, line 8,after "Claims priority, application Netherlands," change "Feb. 7, 1969,"to

--Feb. 27 l969,.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of December 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: McCOY M. mason JR. c. MARSHALL 1mm Attesting OfficerCommissioner .of Patents

